SummitStone Health Partners awarded FEMA grant to enhance counseling services to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Colorado Spirit warm-line (970) 221-5551 expands available emotional support and resources for Larimer County
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — SummitStone Health Partners recently received a grant from FEMA to expand mental health resources in Larimer County due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The counseling and resource warm-line is available free of charge to anyone who may be impacted by COVID-19. Services provided by the grant, which is called Colorado Spirit, can now be accessed 24/7 through the Health District of Northern Larimer County‘s long-standing Connections line at (970) 221-5551.
“This warm-line will continue to provide a safe, anonymous outlet for those who may be experiencing a number of emotions due to the effects of the pandemic,” said Program Manager Alison Hartman, MA, LMFT. “Our trained counselors are here to talk to folks who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, hopelessness, worry or even cabin-fever at levels they never have before. They may not be at the crisis level but really just feeling like they need someone to help them work through this extremely difficult time.”
With oversight from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Colorado Spirit, along with Connections, offers short-term interventions to help people understand their current situation, reduce stress, promote effective coping strategies and resilience, and provide emotional support. Counselors work closely with community organizations to connect people with available resources and refer them to behavioral health treatment and other available services. The warm-line is free to anyone who has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Utilizing the Health District’s already well-established Connections emotional support line, this grant allows SummitStone to add two crisis counselors, three warm-line staff, a senior care specialist, and a childcare specialist to the team. Anyone needing this service can call (970) 221-5551, any time, day or night.
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For further information about this topic, please contact marketing@summitstonehealth.org or visit www.summitstone.org/ColoSpirit
About Health District of Northern Larimer County. The Health District of Northern Larimer County has been meeting local healthcare needs since 1960. Today they provide dental, mental health, prescription assistance, cholesterol, and blood pressure testing, quit tobacco, health insurance assistance and advance care planning services to the residents of northern Larimer County. The Health District partners with other local organizations to assess and plan for the larger health-care needs of the community.
About SummitStone Health Partners. SummitStone Health Partners is the not-for-profit behavioral health provider for Northern Colorado and Larimer County. Since 1957, SummitStone’s mission has been to provide unsurpassed mental health and substance use prevention, intervention and treatment services. SummitStone now serves more than 10,000 community members across Larimer County annually, which includes a Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Crisis Stabilization Unit located at 1217 Riverside Ave. in Fort Collins.
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For further information about this topic, please contact marketing@summitstonehealth.org or visit www.summitstone.org/ColoSpirit